The Hockey News Big Show breaks down recent NHL and hockey news as well as some other big topics as the off-season continues. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 00:57: Rating Happy Gilmore 2 3:40: Aug. 13 was supposed to be Johnny Gaudreau's 32nd birthday. What was Drew Shore’s favorite memory of him? 8:30: The Montreal Canadiens made arguably the biggest splash of the summer. What do you make of their off-season? 10:38: What is the challenge for Montreal being in the Atlantic Division? 12:22: The Florida Panthers re-signed all their big free agents. Nate Schmidt left, but Jeff Petry filled his spot. Are they better, worse or the same as last year?  18:58: What qualifies a player as a rat or a pest in the NHL nowadays? 21:25: Who is the best pest in the NHL today? 23:39: Did Drew Shore have any run-ins with pests during his career? 24:31: What are the rats like off the ice?  25:31: Who will be the next rat in the NHL? 26:46: Has there ever been a player like Brad Marchand who broke into the NHL and was a depth player for a long time before turning into a star?   28:27: Why does Team USA not send the USA Hockey National Team Development Program players to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup ?  30:27: How do scouts guess if a kid will grow in height? 34:07: Gerard Gallant's was introduced as KHL Shanghai’s newest coach in a Mortal Kombat style of video. Yay or nay? 37:13: EA Sports' NHL 26 "X-Factors" were revamped. Which NHL player best matches each one? We start with Quick Release: get shots off lightning quick with an extra-fast shot release. 37:48: Elite Edges: Shake off opponents with explosive edge work with increased acceleration and agility. 38:28: One T: Become the ultimate threat with increased one-timer shot power and accuracy. 39:04: Backhand Beauty: Catch opposing players and goalies off guard with increased backhand shot power and accuracy. 39:43: Send It: Spring your teammates by enhancing that pass receiver with a temporary boost of acceleration. 40:51: Tape to Tape: Feather saucer passes and make snappy passes in and out of vision with increased pass power and accuracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 1:56: What value they could bring to a team and what the price tag should be: Jack Roslovic.  4:54: Can we see Max Pacioretty back on the Montreal Canadiens?  6:35: Is it surprising that Ilya Samsonov hasn’t been snatched up by another team yet?  10:13: Drew, what's it like trying to find a new team via free agency? 15:48: Is Matthew Tkachuk becoming the face of the league and replacing Auston Matthews as the most recognizable U.S.-born player after being selected as the EA Sports NHL26 cover athlete? Should the NHL lean into marketing the game on Tkachuk's brand of ferocity?   22:37: Did Detroit do enough this summer to finally take the step and grab a playoff spot?  Is John Gibson still a No.1 goalie?  26:02: Is Vancouver due for a rebound? 30:42: Olympics rankings: Which country has the best forward corps, defense, and goaltending? 38:35: Is Canada back to being the favorite for the 2026 world juniors? 40:56: Matthew Schaefer or the field: who is winning the Calder Trophy? 42:24: William Nylander or Auston Matthews: who will finish with more goals next season? 43:27: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has partnered with Russian tech company Yande to produce a movie, series, or documentary about his life.  What other player (past or present) deserves the movie treatment? 45:10: A bear chased the Kraken troll mascot "Buoy" and forward John Hayden out of an Alaska river during a recent video promo. Is this a sign that the Boston Bruins will have a better record than Seattle this year?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Hockey News Big Show, where the theme for this off-season episode is early projections and predictions for the 2026 men's hockey Olympic tournament. Here's what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 0:00: Will Team Canada make any significant adjustments to its Olympic roster? 5:36: Is Jordan Binnington still Team Canada’s top goaltending option? 08:30: Which nation has the best chance of upsetting Canada at the Olympics? 10:45: Should Team USA still be considered a favorite at the Olympics?  15:50: Is Connor Hellebuyck still Team USA’s No. 1 goaltender? 19:00: Who will be Team USA’s toughest opponent in group play? 22:20: Will Team Finland or Team Sweden end up being a more dangerous team at the Olympics? 25:30: Will Erik Karlsson make Team Sweden’s Olympic squad? 27:45: Can Juuse Saros still be Finland’s top goalie?  30:15: Predicting the medallists for the 2026 Olympics 31:30: Will the host nation of Italy end up scoring over or under 3.5 goals in group play? 33:05: Who finishes the tournament with more points: Leon Draisaitl or David Pastrnak? 34:10: Which defensemen finishes with more points: Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes? 36:00: What should Team Canada's goal song be? 37:20: What should be the mascot for the upcoming Olympic Games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show discussed the top players in the NHL right now, as ranked in THN’s Top 100 Players issue, and other topics as the off-season continues. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 01:00: Why was Nathan Mackinon No. 1 on the list? 04:00: Thoughts on Cale Makar’s spot on the list? 06:00: What were the criteria for the top 10 of the list? 07:40: How much did championships play a factor? 09:00: Which player in the top 10 who hasn't won the Stanley Cup will win it first? 13:00: Which players who weren’t on the list could jump onto it in the future? 16:30: Who could potentially fall out of the list? 19:00: Who are some young players who could soon join the list? 20:40: Who will be the most improved players? 23:50: Which rookie will make the list first? 26:15: Looking toward the season ahead, which teams could exceed expectations and or disappoint? 30:15: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs worse on paper? 33:00: Which team are you most excited to watch going into next season? 36:30: Did the Tampa Bay Lightning need to do more? 38:45: Should the Florida Panthers still be considered Cup favourites? 40:45: Where does the Tkachuk-Huberdeau deal rank in terms of blockbuster trades? 43:30: Kappo Kakko signed a three-year contract. Yay or nay on the cap hit and term? 44:40: How stoked are you for Adam Fox appearing in an ad for The Naked Gun reboot? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to answer your questions in a mailbag episode as the NHL off-season continues. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 01:20: Will Toronto Maple Leafs fans miss Mitch Marner more than they think? 02:26: Is there anything left for Leafs GM Brad Treliving to do? 05:15: What will Marner's reception be on his return to Toronto? 07:15: Which team will be the biggest surprise next season? 10:00: Will the Pittsburgh Penguins finish last this season? 13:50: Do you think the Sabres will still trade Bo Byram? 16:59: What do you think Connor Bedard's next contract will look like? 20:57: Biggest sleeper team? 23:40: If Arturs Silovs had played better at the beginning of last season, would he still be in the Canucks organization? 26:45: Why did Brian Burke cut Mike Babcock loose after he took the Ducks to the finals? 30:25: How many players from the 2025 draft will start this season in the NHL? 33:30: How many different graphic tees does Ryan Kennedy own? 36:30: Should Stan Fischler be in the Hockey Hall of Fame? 38:00: Will Gavin McKenna win a Frozen Four title? 40:25: Which would you prefer: a heat wave or extreme cold? 41:45: Yay or nay: Nintendo Switch 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics as the NHL off-season is well underway. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 01:30: Are hockey’s enforcers the same off the ice as on the ice? 04:00: Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State. What does it mean for the junior hockey and NCAA landscape? For Drew, what was it like playing college hockey? 06:55: Does college hockey benefit players more than major junior? 09:00: Is the NCAA more difficult than the WHL? 11:30: The Edmonton Oilers traded Sam O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. Thoughts? 14:30: Where do we see Howard playing? Is it OK when young players call their shots and refuse to sign with the team that drafted them? Why didn't Howard want to play for the Lightning?  16:40: What was Drew’s experience like in rookie and development camps? 18:30: Are there any surprises from the NHL’s summer development camps? 21:00: Summer training: what are the early summer routines like? How long after a season ended should someone start to train? What’s the diet like? What kind of gym work happens? 23:00: Would Drew be on the ice constantly in the off-season? 25:30: How much did Drew’s diet change in the off-season? 28:40: How many players from the 2025 draft could go straight to the NHL? 32:45: What makes you able to tell if players are ready for the NHL level right away? 35:00: Who's the best UFA still on the market? 40:00: In honor of the Nittany Lions signing McKenna, what's your favorite NCAA mascot name? 42:00: What's the best summer food? 42:55: Yay or nay: kids playing organized hockey in the summer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics after the beginning of NHL free agency. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 1:16: Reacting to Mitch Marner explaining why the Vegas Golden Knights were a good fit for him 4:03: Marner and his wife reportedly talked to Vegas players at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Is this all becoming harder to digest for Toronto Maple Leafs fans? 5:55: Are the Leafs better than they were at the end of the season? What else do they need? 9:33: Who will get Mitch Marner's alternate captaincy on the Leafs next season? 10:40: What was the most confusing move of the first day of NHL free agency? 13:15: How do the Montreal Canadiens shape up now? 17:25: The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings faced each other for the fourth straight time in the first round this past post-season. Now after July 1, on paper, how has this matchup changed? 22:00: What team improved the most from each conference? 26:16: What team is having the biggest regrets? 31:54: Are the Boston Bruins on the right track? 36:54: Which team on paper looks like it's embracing the "Miserable for McKenna" campaign? 37:29: Are the Ducks, Canucks and Rangers playoff teams on paper? 39:48: Did the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers get better or worse? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics heading into the NHL draft and free agency. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 01:06: Mitch Marner – what are we hearing? Where is he going? 02:13: In the rumor mill, are the Vegas Golden Knights looking to move Tomas Hertl? If so, where could he land? Could they be making room for Marner? 05:43: Aside from Connor McDavid, which other NHL player eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1 will be worth following this summer? 08:15: Rasmus Andersson and the Calgary Flames have no extension in place after next season, so if the team looks to trade the 28-year-old, who should be target him? 11:28: Could the Edmonton Oilers target either John Gibson or Thatcher Demko to address their goaltending? 15:30:  Top RFAs: among the players most likely to be qualified, who's the most likely to switch teams this summer, whether by a trade or offer sheet? 18:46: Which team do we expect to make the biggest splash in free agency this year? 21:45: Why is Matthew Schaefer the top draft prospect? 25:05: What does Michael Misa bring to the table? 27:11: Could Porter Martone be the next great power forward? 29:58: Who benefited the most from the Florida Panthers winning the Cup the way they did?  33:08: Give us your first-round sleeper in the draft. 35:48: Draft comparables: who's the best comparable for James Hagens?  39:18: Reacting to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2025 class 42:25: How would you describe the quality of this draft? 43:22: How many players from this draft will actually play in the NHL next season?  44:08: Of the top 10 players in the 2019 draft, only three are still with the team that selected them (J. Hughes, Seider, Turcotte). Is this a good or bad thing? 45:53: Name one player you think will stay where he is and one who will go. 47:09: The St. Louis Blues announced their new jerseys. Yay or nay? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to break down the Stanley Cup final and look at some big topics around the NHL and beyond, with longtime coach Bruce Boudreau giving his expert insight. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Bruce Boudreau discussed in this episode: 1:13: The Oilers made NHL history in the Stanley Cup final by winning a game after trailing 3-0. How does a win like this change things for Edmonton? 5:23: Was the second period more Florida’s fault or all Edmonton’s doing to get back in the game? 6:52: What does Boudreau make of the officiating?  9:45: Stuart Skinner was pulled after the first period, Pickard went in and shut the door. Were you surprised at all by the goalie pull after the first? And is Pickard the Game 5 starter? 14:34: If you're coaching Florida, what are you saying after that game? How are you ensuring your team is ready to bounce back for a quick turnaround for Game 5? What about Edmonton? 17:11: Do you think Florida is best suited to be unfazed by blowing a 3-0 lead?  20:48: What has stood out to Boudreau in this series, good or bad?  25:36: The last Cup final that had more overtime games was Toronto and Montreal in 1951, when all five games required OT. Will this series match that? 28:01: Predictions for Game 5? 30:53: Thoughts on the Chris Kreider trade, and what else should the New York Rangers be looking to do?  33:17: Should Mitch Marner go to the New York Rangers?  38:14: Jonathan Toews gears up to make his NHL return, so where do we see him landing? 42:08: Connor Hellebuyck wins Hart Trophy as MVP. Do we agree with this? 43:45: Who is more clutch: Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid? 45:23: This is the best Stanley Cup final since when? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to break down the Stanley Cup final and look at some big topics around the NHL and beyond. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode: 0:37: Ryan was at Game 3 of the Cup final and breaks down how things unfolded after the game. 3:01: Was this Edmonton's worst game of the series so far?  4:22: Has the Oilers’ depth disappeared? 5:55: Connor McDavid said post-game he thinks their best has yet to come in the Cup final. Do you agree? 6:15: Was it a gutless move to have the Panthers’ top line out for the power play near the end as the game got chippy? 7:29: There were 140 combined penalty minutes in Game 3. Are we seeing too many calls?  10:18: After many guys were tossed from the game throughout the final frame, rate the hate between these two teams. 14:12: What’s the concern level about Stuart Skinner’s performance? Who starts Game 4? 16:08: Who is more likely to be on Florida next year: Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand? 21:15: Max Pacioretty is leaning toward returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to The Athletic. What's the best use of him in the lineup? 23:51: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman calls Paul Bissonnette's concern about Florida's lack of state tax "ridiculous." Agree or disagree? 29:02: T.J. Oshie announced his retirement on Monday. Could he be a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer? 30:39: NCAA colleges will soon be able to pay student athletes directly after settling three lawsuits. How will this affect Div. I hockey? Should the CHL do more to compensate players? 36:25: How could the CHL benefit from some of its players heading to the NCAA? 38:26: DJ Khaled was part of the Panthers’ pre-game hype. Name another celebrity you want to see involved in the final. 40:09: Who’s the most surprising player in the Cup final so far? 41:23: Who is the bigger "rat" between  Brad Marchand and Corey Perry? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the Stanley Cup final and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore giving his take. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 1:02: How important is it that the Edmonton Oilers’ stars keep up this level of play?  3:34: What is it like watching Connor McDavid make his passes look so easy?  4:22: Was the Florida Panthers’ first goal the right call, or should it have been goalie interference?  6:50: Are the Edmonton Oilers a more physical team than people give them credit for?  9:50: Do the Oilers need Zach Hyman with the way everyone else is producing? 11:12: If you are Paul Maurice, how do you limit McDavid and Draisaitl in Game 2?  12:49:  Will we see Vezina-level Sergei Bobrovsky in this series? 14:20:  Does Stuart Skinner deserve more respect for reaching back-to-back finals?  16:40: Sean Monahan wins the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, and Johnny Gaudreau”s widow, Meredith, presented him the trophy. How deserving is he of this trophy? 18:45: Will the NHL do something about the tax imbalance the league is facing?  22:40: With Muse being the next coach for Pittsburgh, are the Penguins aiming toward a tank? 25:52: The Boston Bruins hired the first German head coach in the NHL with Marco Sturm. How does this affect the team’s future?  28:03: The NHL combine is this week. What was Drew Shore’s best and worst event at the combine? 31:51: Will the Calgary Flames get better or worse next season?  32:38: If Edmonton wins the final, who does McDavid pass the Cup to first? 33:21: Will Jeff Skinner see any ice time in the final?  34:49: Was the Colorado Avalanche re-signing Brock Nelson a good move or an overpay? 34:48: Is Pink Pony Club a pass or fail win song? What is the best victory song you've heard? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player and coach Bruce Boudreau providing some unique insight. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Katie Gaus and Bruce Boudreau discussed in this episode: 1:10: What are the Florida Panthers' greatest strengths? 5:08: What are the Edmonton Oilers' greatest strengths? 10:22: What areas of the Panthers’ game could be considered a weakness? Is there a particular area of Florida's game that Edmonton should focus on exploiting? 14:42: What matchups should Florida look at to attempt to control the Oilers' star players?  20:09: Is there any advantage the Oilers might have gained from last year's Game 7 Stanley Cup final loss?  26:19: Predicting the Stanley Cup final and how many games it will take 29:24: We saw what happened in Dallas with Peter DeBoer's goalie pull decision. How much coaching comes into play throughout a series? 34:41: Adam Foote is a first-time NHL coach in Vancouver. What are the challenges of going from being an assistant or associate coach to a head coach? 39:00: Where will Mitch Marner end up? 40:28: As a coach, what superstition did you have?  43:40: Why did Bruce Boudreau volunteer to serve minor penalties with the Maple Leafs as a player? 44:39: Boudreau was a part of the “Plumber Line” on the Maple Leafs. Where does that rank among favorite line names ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 1:38: Are the Florida Panthers a dynasty team? 3:44: Is this Panthers squad more impressive than the Tampa Bay Lightning team that went to three straight Cup finals? 4:52: If you’re one of the 31 other NHL teams, what are you taking away from Florida? Will we see other teams getting bigger and heavier?  7:10: How should Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky move on from losing in the Eastern Conference final again? Was this year a success or failure? 9:48: How big of a loss is it to Edmonton to be without Zach Hyman? Who will take Hyman’s minutes? 12:58: Do the Stars need more from Mikko Rantanen in these do-or-die games? 15:44: What would a 100-percent healthy Matthew Tkachuk look like?  18:00: If you were Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, what moves would you make this summer?  20:21: Whose futures are in doubt in Toronto's Core Four?  23:46: Is it a good or bad thing that Craig Berube will have more to do with the decision-making on the Leafs?  28:18: Are the Stars too loyal to Jamie Benn? Should they re-sign him?  29:47: What is Mathieu Darche's biggest challenge as New York Islanders GM?  32:15: How do players stay healthy and energized as they go further into the playoffs? What’s the balance of practice versus rest? 35:09: What kind of team bonding activities are there during the playoffs?  38:22: Predicting the Memorial Cup semifinal and final   40:40: Mitch Marner or Sam Bennett: who should be the main target in free agency? 41:34: Have Corey Perry and Brad Marchand changed how we should view veteran free agents? 43:09: Paul Maurice told Brind'Amour and Berube that coaches don't belong in the handshake line. Agree or disagree? 44:34: The Panthers didn't touch the Prince of Wales Trophy (again). Are you superstitious? Craziest superstition? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 1:03: What do we think about Brendan Shanahan finding a potential new job so quickly? 2:57:  Can the Shanaplan work for the New York Islanders if he leaves Toronto?  3:47:  How much blame does Shanahan deserve for what happened in Toronto? 4:36:  Who is truly to blame for the Maple Leafs’ lack of success: GMs, coaches, players or Shanahan?  6:15: How do you handle the off-season if you are Leafs GM Brad Treliving? 11:53  How likely is it for the Winnipeg Jets to get Nikolaj Ehlers signed in the off-season?  12:54:  Is Brock Boeser a must-get guy in free agency, and where will he end up? 14:36:  Will some of the big pending free agents switch teams?  17:48:  If you are the Edmonton Oilers, how do you look at the Game 1 implosion, and will this haunt them in what will be a long series?  18:55: Did Matt Duchene embellish a high-sticking penalty?   22:10: Is Stuart Skinner good enough to contend with the Stars' offense? 24:19: How do the Carolina Hurricanes bounce back after a Game 1 loss? 27:34: Does Logan Stankoven need to step up for Carolina, and does Matthew Tkachuk need to show up for Florida?  28:35: Which of the four teams left in the playoffs has the most pressure to win a Cup this year? 31:12 How important is it for Porter Martone joining Team Canada at the World Championship for his development? Does it increase his draft stock? 33:21: Is Frank Nazar putting himself on the map with his play at the Worlds? How excited should Blackhawks fans be?  35:06 How important is it for Macklin Celebrini to be playing with Sidney Crosby, and does he sneak his way onto the Olympic roster? 37:19: Will Jake Oettinger be the starting goalie for the U.S. in the 2026 Olympics? 38:30: We've only really seen one true fight in the playoffs this far. Are we missing this aspect from the playoffs this year? 40:29: The Boston Bruins officially get a first-rounder in the Brad Marchand trade now that Florida is in the conference final. Was the deal worth it for Boston now? 42:16: What's the best food city left in the playoffs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Shore discussed in this episode: 1:03: After the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5, how do the Leafs go about forcing a Game 7? 3:15: How do you block out a booing home crowd as a player? 4:44: If the Maple Leafs lose this series, does something drastic have to happen to the Core Four? 7:51: Would you make any changes to the Leafs' lineup in Game 6? 8:16: As a player, do you know when a series is all but over? 9:43: Is this Panthers team better than last year's Cup-winning squad? 11:47: How important is it for the Edmonton Oilers to have scoring depth and not rely on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for all offense? 14:02: Should a team in win-now mode use more third- and fourth-round draft picks in trades? 16:34: Is there an alternate universe where the Maple Leafs have Mikko Rantanen?    17:31: Does Andrei Svechnikov still go second overall in the 2018 NHL draft, and how is his play this playoffs? 20:20: Is Carolina's recent play too much for Washington to handle?  21:10: Hypothetically, who wins in the Eastern Conference final between Carolina and Florida?  22:16: Have you ever seen a goalie or skater be so different on the road versus at home, as is the case with Connor Hellebuyck right now? 23:08: How much does Miro Heiskanen impact Dallas' chances of winning the Cup?  24:48: Did the Vancouver Canucks make the right move by hiring Adam Foote?  28:25: Is Rick Tocchet a good fit for the Philadelphia Flyers?  31:17: Agree or disagree: will Jonathan Toews land with an NHL team, and if so, which one? 35:36: Should being a Long Island native influence the Islanders' decision to select James Hagens with the No. 1 pick? 39:07: Evan Bouchard or Matthew Knies, if you are a GM, who do you offer a contract to and why? 41:38: Would you rather have Florida's Finnish players or Dallas’ Finnish Mafia?  42:46: Who's to blame for the Leafs this playoffs: Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner? 43:43: Will a Canadian team win the Cup this year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond, with help from a special guest. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and ex-NHL player Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 0:55: Does Sunrise, Fla., get enough credit for how good of a city and Florida Panthers home crowd it is to play?   1:31: How important are line matchups between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers going to be now that the series is headed to Florida, where Paul Maurice will have the last change?  3:06: Which line should Florida match up against Auston Matthews or William Nylander's line, as the top line? 6:05: Will the Florida Panthers try to slow play down and win with low-scoring games? 7:06: The Mikko Rantanen Show was on full display again. Have we ever seen one player take over like this before? 9:42: How will the Winnipeg Jets stop Rantanen?   10:26: Is Jim Nill the best GM in the Modern Era?  14:28: The Carolina Hurricanes is up 1-0 against the Washington Capitals, but can you see this series going to six or seven games?  16:14: What is it like being coached by Rod Brind'Amour? 17:30: Is there something about Carolina's style of hockey that doesn’t translate into the playoffs?  18:36: Sebastian Aho has the type of slight build that shouldn't work in the playoffs. What makes him so effective as a competitor? 20:46: Will goaltending be Edmonton's Achilles heel, or is it good enough?  24:15: Alex Pietrangelo and Pavel Dorofeyev of Vegas were absent from practice. How big would these losses be? 27:56: World Championship: which players have the most to gain/lose? 32:27: Why has James Hagens dropped so far in the rankings heading into the NHL draft? 34:47: Joel Quenneville is reportedly joining the Anaheim Ducks. Is he the right coach for this team? 36:55: Kraken/Golden Knights/Mammoth: which recent new team has the best name? 37:35: Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel: Regular seasons aside, who has been the better playoff performer? 39:12: Home teams aren’t performing very well in the second round of the playoffs, so is home-ice advantage real?  40:25: Who is your early Conn Smythe pick? Anyone else besides Rantanen? 41:02: Would the Avalanche have been better off with Rantanen or depth? 42:30: What's your current pump-up song?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to not only discuss the closing stages of the first round but some of the other biggest topics in the NHL. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Katie Gaus discussed in this episode: 0:47: Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is Thursday night. Are the Leafs still "fine," or could they blow another series lead again? 3:30: How much pressure is on the Maple Leafs in Game 6, and do you expect any lineup changes?  6:06: Even if the Maple Leafs do win the series, have they changed your mind about them being a "contender?" 9:30: The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet in the second round. Thoughts on this series?  13:28: In Game 5 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, there was a league review for a kicking motion, which gave Vegas time to watch the goal, and when it was determined there was no kick, Vegas challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. Many online comments suggest that this is ruining hockey. Do you agree? 16:43: Most surprising series so far? 20:11: First-round MVP candidates so far? 22:07: Player that's been the biggest surprise in the first round, for good or bad reasons? 25:19: The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning like crazy, with so many open jobs. Where do we see Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan landing? Could more coaches lose their jobs? 29:15: The NHL’s Hart Trophy finalists are Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov. Thoughts on no Nathan Mackinnon? Who will win it?  33:16: Taylor Hall signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.167 million annually. Do we like it?  34:25: Utah Hockey Club’s YouTube channel briefly showed "@UtahMammoth"  as the handle... sounds like this is it? Yay or nay? 36:58: Who do you want to see win the NHL draft lottery? Who actually wins it? 39:59: Patrik Laine enters the final year of his contract next season. Do the Habs re-sign him over the summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a special guest for a special playoff edition of The Hockey News Big Show. Longtime NHL coach Bruce Boudreau joins Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos to discuss what's going on in the Stanley Cup playoffs, what's happening with the non-playoff squads and some of Boudreau's stories, including his time with the Vancouver Canucks. Here's what they discussed in this episode: 0:00: Which goaltender should start for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 versus the Los Angeles Kings? 8:14: Has Matthew Knies’ play unlocked a new level of offense for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the power play? 14:58: Have the Washington Capitals proven to be a true Stanley Cup contender? 20:19: With their roster now fully healthy, do the Florida Panthers have the scariest offense in the East? 24:49: Are the Winnipeg Jets proving they don’t need Connor Hellebuyck to play at a top-tier level to be a Stanley Cup contender? 28:36: Breaking down Gabriel Landeskog’s return to the Colorado Avalanche's lineup. 33:50: After signing an extension with the New York Rangers, what should Chris Drury’s off-season plan be? 39:15: Who should take home the Jack Adams Award this year? 41:01: Will Alex Ovechkin retire from hockey before the age of 50? 43:30: Who’s the best goal-scorer that Boudreau ever played with and against? 45:03: Which first-round series is most likely to have an upset? 47:34: Should Jim Rutherford have discussed Quinn Hughes’ contract talks publicly? 49:27: Updated Stanley Cup picks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode: 0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series? 3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game?  3:55:  What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like? 5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them?  7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line?  8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series 10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals? 13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series 15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel? 17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa?  18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series 21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series 21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup?  24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck?  25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series 26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars?  28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team?  30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out?  32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup?  33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild 34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers?  35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings?  37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series  37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final?  40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring? 41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?  42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run? 43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero? 44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics. Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode: 3:01: The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are locked in for a first-round matchup. Here’s what to expect and the series prediction. 7:48: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the regular-season champions. Since 1986, only eight of the 37 Presidents' Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup. Do you believe in the curse? 11:01: What has impressed you most about Winnipeg's season, and more importantly, can they continue it in the playoffs? 13:55: For the first time in NHL history, the Bruins, Penguins and Rangers have all missed the playoffs. Which team will make it back into the playoffs? What moves do they need to make to get there? 17:14: This year's Stanley Cup playoffs could likely feature five of the seven Canadian teams. It would be the first time five Canadian teams have made it since 2017. Is this the year since 1993 we see the Stanley Cup brought back to Canada? 21:08: Which team has a better chance of winning the Cup between Toronto and Winnipeg? 21:59: We've got a few new faces making it into the playoffs this year. Which player who has never been in the playoffs are you most excited to see get their first taste of playoff hockey? 24:12: Which player is a bigger loss for their team heading into the playoffs: Mattias Ekholm for the Oilers or Oliver Bjorkstrand for the Lightning? 28:07: Reports out of Boston indicate that no changes are expected in the Bruins’ front office, so it looks like Don Sweeney and Cam Neely are here to stay. Is this good or bad for Boston? Could we see any other team making changes at the top and firing a GM?  32:19: Ivan Demidov had an impressive NHL debut, with one goal and one assist. Could he be the next Guy Lafleur? 34:52: Logan Couture is not expected to continue his NHL playing career. He played 15 years, all for the San Jose Sharks. Where does he rank among all-time Sharks greats? 36:37: The NHLPA Player Poll was released today – 630 players were asked to name the league's most complete player. Sidney Crosby finished slightly ahead of Aleksander Barkov. Agree or disagree? 39:29: What’s your favorite NHL Stanley Cup playoff tradition? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices